So What's Being Smuggled through Tunnels Now?

So what's being smuggled in the tunnels now?

Posted: 02 Mar 2011 05:58 AM PST
Last week, a tunnel between Egypt and Gaza collapsed, injuring three people.

Today, another man working on a smuggling tunnel died from a fall.

In 2008 and 2009, there were a bunch of articles in the media about how the tunnels were Gaza's lifeline, how consumer goods were being smuggled in, and how the tunnel operators were heroically defying the blockade.

Now that Gaza has plenty of consumer goods, what exactly is being smuggled in the tunnels?

As was the case then, these intrepid reporters never bother asking about weapons smuggling. It is as if Chinese-made Grad rockets magically appear in Gaza, perhaps with the help of Aladdin's genie.

Mubarak Loses Bedouin Smuggler Support

Time Magazine reports that Bedouin smugglers opposed to the Mubarak regime now control the two Egyptian towns that are closest to the Gaza Strip. The towns are not named, but we have heard reports relating to both El Arish and Rafah over the past few days.

And a prominent Bedouin smuggler in the Sinai peninsula told TIME that Bedouin are now in control of the two towns closest to the Gaza Strip, and that they planned to press on to attack the Suez Canal if Mubarak does not step down. He also said that police stations in the south Sinai would be attacked if Bedouin prisoners were not released.

And in Israel, the IDF may not have a Chief of Staff in two weeks, because Defense Minister Barak's candidate for the position has been accused of perjury.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Ehud Barak, El Arish, Gaza-Egypt border, IDF Chief of Staff, Philadelphi corridor, Politics, Rafah, World Politics, Yoav Galant

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:04 AM